The chairperson of Pattani's Islamic Committee, Waedueramae Mahmingji, said he considered Surayud the most suitable person for the job.

"Ever since violence re-emerged in the deep South, Surayud has been a regular visitor the region and has established very good relationships with all religious leaders in the deep South," he said.

The deputy chairperson of Yala's Islamic Committee, Nimu Magaje, said Surayud understood the culture, traditions and lifestyle of people in the South. He also understood the root cause of the current problems, he said.

"Personally, I believe that Gen Surayud will engage civil society as well as people's participation in solving the problem. I would also like to suggest that Gen Surayud to use the data he collected over the past two years to find the best solution."

Nimanase Sama-ari, chairperson of Young Muslim Association of Thailand, said the first thing Surayud's government needed to do was to unite the functioning of various organisations in the deep South because they are now working individually - and pulling in different directions.

"What I also want to see most is the government utilising the suggestions by the National Reconciliation Commission, which are very good and true to the situation. As such, the government does not have to waste time in finding facts and information again."

Despite the general feeling that Surayud was the right man for the job, several concerns were raised as well.

Assistant Professor Dr Wichai Kanchanasuwan, a political scientist at Prince of Songkhla University, asked Surayud to choose the minister responsible for dealing with violence in the far South carefully.

"This person must be knowledgeable, talented and ethical," Wichai said.

The issue was also raised by the president of Yala's Chamber of Commerce, Poj Paiboolkasemsuk, who said Surayud needed a well coordinated and unified cabinet to restore peace in the region.

However, the chairperson of Yala's Islamic Committee, Abdulrohmae Jesae, said the interim government's term of only one year might not be sufficient time to solve the problems in the South.

Meanwhile, security officials narrowly escaped injury yesterday morning after a bomb went off at the site of an insurgency-related arson attack they were investigating.

A roadside phone booth on Petchkasem Road in Bacho district of Narathiwat had been set ablaze earlier in the morning, apparently to lure security officials to the spot.

A 3-kilogram home-made bomb hidden under a roadside pavilion four metres from the phone booth exploded when a team of investigating officers arrived, sending shrapnel all over the area. No one was injured, but a television reporter's car was damaged.

In another attack, Montha Sangiamchit, 41, was shot dead while riding a motorbike home with her son after shopping at a local market in Srisakorn district of Narathiwat.